Teachers Mine for Ethereum (available on Coinbase): Mining for cryptocurrency comes with its controversy. Energy consumption is already the most eyebrow-raising aspect. So what about using the local school’s computers to mine for Ethereum (available on Coinbase)… during school time? Oh, and you’re the principal of the school.

This is exactly what happened in Hunan Province, China.

Teachers Mine for Ethereum (available on Coinbase): What Happened?

According to Hong Kong news outlet HK01, two Puman Middle School principals were caught using the school’s power to mine Ethereum (available on Coinbase).

The school’s general manager noticed the computers’ fans were louder than normal and this raised questions. This was even during the holiday period. The IT network had slowed greatly, and energy consumption doubled between July and November.

The two principals in question are Lei Hua and vice principal Wang Zhipeng. The pair had installed $7,000 worth of computers (nine computers) and were using the school’s power to mine Ethereum (available on Coinbase). Hua had initially set up the rigs at his home, but he soon discovered the high cost that mining requires. Shocked at the energy bill, he then installed the computers in a school dormitory.

Teachers Mine for Ethereum (available on Coinbase), Stealing Power

Installing the computers in the school meant he effectively stole $2,163 worth of power—the amount required to mine.

Since the incident, the principal has lost his position at the school, and the vice principal has been given a strict warning.